Article

Many people with lower limb loss report the need to concentrate on
walking. This may indicate increased reliance on cognitive resources when walking
compared to individuals without limb loss.
This study quantified
changes in walking associated with addition of a concurrent cognitive task in
persons with transfemoral amputation using microprocessor knees compared to age-
and sex-matched controls. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study.
METHODS: Quantitative motion analysis was used to assess walking under both
single-task (walking alone) and dual-task (walking while performing a cognitive
task) conditions. Primary outcomes were walking speed, step width, step time
asymmetry, and cognitive task response latency and accuracy. Repeated-measures
analysis of variance was used to examine the effects of task (single-task and
dual-task) and group (transfemoral amputation and control) for each outcome.
RESULTS: No significant interactions between task and group were observed (all p
> 0.11) indicating that a cognitive task did not differentially affect walking
between groups. However, walking was slower with wider steps and more asymmetry
in people with transfemoral amputation compared to controls under both
conditions. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in walking
between people with transfemoral amputation and matched controls, the effects of
a concurrent cognitive task on walking were similar between groups. CLINICAL
RELEVANCE: The addition of a concurrent task did not differentially affect
walking outcomes in people with and without transfemoral amputation. However,
compared to people without limb loss, people with transfemoral amputation adopted
a conservative walking strategy. This strategy may reduce the need to concentrate
on walking but also contributed to notable gait deviations.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS